Revisiting last week’s class on THE FOUR GREAT TRUTHS and the truth that was revealed about me and my fifth chakra healing. So, am wandering around the web to look for more good things to read and clarify, inform and inspire my understanding of the fifth chakra. And a couple of nights ago, I had a dream which I think was related.
Fifth Chakra: Truth and Creativity http://virtualcircle.blogspot.com/2008/01/throat-chakra.html
This chakra is about opening the voice, speaking your truth, and freeing your creativity. It is where you take the will from the third chakra, add it to the breath in the fourth chakra, and energise the ideas coming down from the mind to express yourself in the world. Through communication you connect, expand, and unite with others, creating your world as you go.
The essence of this chakra is to find resonance and harmony with all that is vibrating around you. It is to open to speaking and listening, toning and singing, moving and dancing, and from this synergy you open your creativity to express your deepest self.
To open the fifth chakra is to commune, a word which forms the root of communication, and literally means to be one with. To communice with self and spirit is to take yet anotehr step toward the realisation of unity with all things.
Chakra Attributes
Color: Blue
Function: Communication, Creativity, Connection
Healing Essence of the Chakra: Located in the throat and neck region of the body and extending upward to include the lower region of the brain or cortex, this area holds the communication center. Through the Throat Chakra one may speak long-held truths of past hurts and, in the process, find much inner peace and a sense of personal freedom. With a healed and healthy fifth chakra, one’s words are kind, clear and truthful.
Keywords: Truth, Self-Expression, Song, Poetry, Clarity, Communication
Affirmations:
- I am the messenger.
- I speak my truth with clarity and courage.
Interpreting excess or deficiency in the fifth chaka
Excessive Characteristics
- Talking too much or inappropriately
- Gossiping
- Stuttering
- Difficulty being silent
- Excessive loudness
- Inability to contain (keep confidences, etc)
Deficient characteristics
- Difficulty putting things in words
- Fear of speaking
- Speaking with a small, weak voice
- Secretiveness
- Excessive shyness
- Tone deafness
Balanced characteristics
- Reasonant, full voice
- Clear communication with others
- Good communication with self
- Good listener
- Good sense of timing and rhythm
- Lives life creatively
The fifth chakra self evaluation
- Are you comfortable with your own voice? Have you ever listened to its reasonace?
- Do you allow other people to have their say and be heard?
- In what ways do you express yourself creatively?
- Do you feel that people hear you?
- Do you communicate your feelings open and honestly?
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Source: http://fuzzynale.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/the-spiritual-psychology-of-the-chakras/
The Throat Chakra (located around the throat, mouth and ears) As we grow into deeper awareness and opening of all the chakras, we also begin to expand our ability to tap into the vibrational energy field around us. The patterns of sound are our connection to the world. The throat chakra is the centre for making sense of these vibrations, for communication, self-expression, creativity, speaking our truth, and at the subtlest levels, telepathy, channeling and clairaudience (ability to perceive sounds outside the physical realm).
If we encounter repression or attempts to stifle our innate ability for self-expression, the throat chakra closes down and energetically appears blocked. The natural flow of vibration is impeded – energy goes in but cannot go out. We are all too familiar with the childhood maxim “children should be seen and not heard”, the silencing of women’s voices in patriarchal systems and the stifling of creative talent for fear of ridicule. Other threats to the throat chakra include keeping shameful family secrets, living with chronic fear, being yelled at or shamed into silence. When the throat chakra is closed, all other chakras find their expression stifled too.
The key to healing the throat chakra is finding the place of our own truth and relearning the ability to express ourselves. We can give ourselves permission to cry, to voice our fears, share our stories and engage in active listening with others. We can honor self-expression through finding creative outlets – writing, art, gardening or music. For some people it is important to reduce the pollution of vibrational noise through meditation or silent retreat.
As the throat chakra begins to heal, the grosser vibrations of sound no longer create interference. We begin to tune into more subtle layers of vibration, including the development of psychic abilities such as telepathy and clairaudience and opening to divine revelations such as those experienced by mystics through the ages.
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Fifth Chakra (vishuddha)
Source: http://yogabhaktiflow.blogspot.com/2007/02/second-charka-svadisthana.html
The fifth chakra resonates ones power of choice, and ability to express ones will. Every moment in life we are confronted to make decisions and choose what our next steps may be. The decisions we make in life are expressions of our desires and of our willpower. Although one may acknowledge their inner desires, strengths and emotions, to express what is within, and to make appropriate decisions in life that will nurture and empower growth is a challenge for many. What may be stored in the heart and gut emotions often gets stuck in the throat region, crippling individuals to express their will.
If you think about what expression is & the way people express themselves. It is controlled through the power on voice and sound, facial expressions and body language. Sound is the most penetrating and powerful form of expression; through our vocals we have an ability to express ourselves in a positive or negative way. Our emotions are expressed through sound, when one might be angry then it comes out through the tone in their voice as well as the language they may choose to get their message across in. When there is an emotion of love or compassion then softness prevails in the voice. Our voice, how and what we say mirrors our inner thoughts, desires and emotions. How we express ourselves verbally determines the conscious and unconscious choices we make. It is also easy to make decisions based of our fears, thus our fears may dictate our power on choice. Fears may be overcome by faith.
The jaw also governs expression, there is so much tension held in the jaw. Our control issues are held there, not willing to let go, being stubborn and holding on to a sense of righteousness. For many we are unconscious of what we are holding onto in the jaw. To think that one is in total control is an illusion. So many times we try and control our situation using the power on our voice, in turn the jaw holds onto this concept and locks out. To let go of always trying to control a situation or persons in ones life, takes faith in a higher power and trusting in divine will.
The region surrounding the throat is the midway point from the line of energy that is formed from head to heart. Person who may have blocks in the 5th chakra often cut off their head to the heart, and or head to the rest of the body. To be aware what the body and heart feels, to consciously connect with the body and its needs & takes openness in the 5th chakra. So many times we bottle up our emotions, not allowing them out of our hearts. When one may be upset, the lump that forms in the throat literally stops us from communicating with the rest of our body as well as the situation we may be trying to express ourselves in. The 5th chakra is in essence in communication, not just with others and but with oneself also. Communication means coming together with a conscious connection. How is it possible to really communicate with others and to express ones will if ones is cut off from there own bodies and hearts.
I also like to say that the 5th chakra is the lid to the heart. Opening that lid frees one from all the stored emotions, attachments and desires that may be trapping an individual in their body, as well as their concepts and beliefs. The key to opening that lid is faith.
Having Faith in divine will, and letting go of trying to control. Trusting a greater power in ones life is empowering. We can be constantly on the mental level when making decisions, did I do the right thing or not, but if one is able to open up to divine will then ones choice has no label of right or wrong. It is easy to act and make decisions based on ones personal agenda, “what’s in it for me”, when one is empowered by divine will then one becomes selfless.
One of the most common observations I see while teaching yoga is how students lock out the jaw, especially when faced with an intense stretch or pose. Instead of breathing, the jaw takes control; also most subtlety saying, “I am in control, I will not surrender”. The face is the index to the inner self. The constant holding on to tension around the neck and shoulders stops individuals going deeper in their yoga practice. Also into understanding that life’s challenges are gifts and opportunities to change old reactive behavioral patterns.
Releasing the tension around the neck and shoulders is like flipping the lid open to allow Gods will to come into the body and mind. When faced with jaws clenching, it is good to release with a lion’s breath. This immediately brings oxygen to the head and face and releases the stress that is held in the face and jaw. Then to infuse mantra, power of sound, clears the throat chakra for divinity to enter into the body. The 5th chakra not only blocks what we may need to release from the body, but also prevent what we may need to bring into the body to heal. People are often self conscious at first to chant vocally, but once there is a letting go and they express themselves with full power then one can hear the vibration go deep down, as if it goes into the throat chakra, then the heart, then into the core the belly, the pelvic floor and finally into ones roots and legs.
Another great way to work yoga into the 5th chakra is to do neck releases. This can be done not just sitting, but also in poses like extended side angel, and triangle. Instead of having the arm up over by the ear, allow the arm and hand to float a few inches above the side waist and ribs. Allow the head to draw downwards, instead of looking up; drop the ear toward the shoulder, while at the same time extending down through the fingertips along the side body. Great counter forces are put into play that stretches the neck and releases tension there. Why always look up in poses if that creates tension. Actively look down; play with ways to release that tightness. It is not that you need to fit in what yoga is supposed to look like, yoga fits around the individual persons body and needs.
Other Links related to Fifth Chakra Wisdom and Healing
http://sarahdavidian.com/blog/?p=80
http://www.kundaliniyogablog.com/tags/5th-chakra-communication/
http://www.blinkx.com/video/visuddha-the-throat-chakra/8_iBZ6yzUy8f-Zfm2cSueg
http://www.blinkx.com/video/chakra-journey-throat-part-5/JkdigYPUzUXJpfS7jfWWow
The fifth chakra located at the throat addresses “will and spiritual authority”.
http://www.mypeacevow.com/
Lama style kinda teaching, in the illustrious tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa, HH the Dalai Lama and Gaden Shartse Monastery.
